Indonesia is negotiating large-scale infrastructure investments with Indian companies

New Delhi: According to people familiar with the matter, the Indonesian government has held talks with Indian infrastructure companies to develop key projects in the Southeast Asian country. Last year, an Indian infrastructure company expressed interest in participating in the development of Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantra. The proposal was taken up and is currently being discussed.

New Delhi: According to people familiar with the matter, the Indonesian government has held talks with Indian infrastructure companies to develop key projects in the Southeast Asian country. Last year, an Indian infrastructure company expressed interest in participating in the development of Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantra. The proposal was taken up and is currently being discussed.

“Last year there was an offer from an Indian company to participate in the development of Indonesia’s new capital. “The process is still ongoing,” said one of the above people.

“Last year there was an offer from an Indian company to participate in the development of Indonesia’s new capital. “The process is still ongoing,” said one of the above people.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo announced the new capital development project in 2019. The government argued that Jakarta, the country’s capital since independence in 1949, was overcrowded and polluted. In addition to environmental and human factors, Jakarta’s business, political and financial influence has raised concerns about regional inequality and underdevelopment in other provinces. The new capital should be ready by 2024.

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo announced the new capital development project in 2019. The government argued that Jakarta, the country’s capital since independence in 1949, was overcrowded and polluted. In addition to environmental and human factors, Jakarta’s business, political and financial influence has raised concerns about regional inequality and underdevelopment in other provinces. The new capital should be ready by 2024.

According to the above people, Indonesia is also in talks with Indian companies to develop new port infrastructure in West Sumatra province.

According to the above people, Indonesia is also in talks with Indian companies to develop new port infrastructure in West Sumatra province.

India and Indonesia previously held talks on the development of Indonesia’s strategic port of Sabang, located just 710 kilometers from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The port of Sabang is also only 500 km away from the important Malacca Straits.

India and Indonesia previously held talks on the development of Indonesia’s strategic port of Sabang, located just 710 kilometers from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The port of Sabang is also only 500 km away from the important Malacca Straits.

This “strategic bottleneck” connects Asia to the markets of the Middle East and Europe, and around 40% of world trade passes through its waters. In 2018, Luhut Pandjaitan, then Minister of Maritime Affairs of Indonesia, stated that the two countries could develop the Port of Sabang for both economic and defense purposes. A number of major Indian firms have experience in building strategic infrastructure of this type. The Essar Group led a consortium to build the Indian-funded Sittwe Port in Myanmar. JSW Infrastructure signed a pact with the United Arab Emirates Port of Fujairah for the operation and maintenance of the Dibba Bulk Handling Terminal.

This “strategic bottleneck” connects Asia to the markets of the Middle East and Europe, and around 40% of world trade passes through its waters. In 2018, Luhut Pandjaitan, then Minister of Maritime Affairs of Indonesia, stated that the two countries could develop the Port of Sabang for both economic and defense purposes. A number of major Indian firms have experience in building strategic infrastructure of this type. The Essar Group led a consortium to build the Indian-funded Sittwe Port in Myanmar. JSW Infrastructure signed a pact with the United Arab Emirates Port of Fujairah for the operation and maintenance of the Dibba Bulk Handling Terminal.

A spokesman for JSW Group declined to comment on the company’s possible involvement in the construction of a port in Myanmar.

A spokesman for JSW Group declined to comment on the company’s possible involvement in the construction of a port in Myanmar.

New Delhi and Jakarta have also launched the India-Indonesia Infrastructure Forum to strengthen cooperation in this area. The first meeting of this forum took place in 2018. However, the forum has not met since 2019. A joint task force meeting to improve connectivity between Indonesia’s Aceh province and India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands was held in December last year.

New Delhi and Jakarta have also launched the India-Indonesia Infrastructure Forum to strengthen cooperation in this area. The first meeting of this forum took place in 2018. However, the forum has not met since 2019. A joint task force meeting to improve connectivity between Indonesia’s Aceh province and India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands was held in December last year.

“Infrastructure should be at the heart of the Indo-Indonesian partnership. When the last President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, came to India in 2011, a great many infrastructure projects were signed, including a port in South Sumatra. But none of these projects have ever borne fruit,” said Gurjit Singh, India’s ambassador to Indonesia from 2012 to 2015.

“Infrastructure should be at the heart of the Indo-Indonesian partnership. When the last President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, came to India in 2011, a great many infrastructure projects were signed, including a port in South Sumatra. But none of these projects have ever borne fruit,” said Gurjit Singh, India’s ambassador to Indonesia from 2012 to 2015.

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